Top seed Lukas Lacko of Slovakia and fifth seed Ivan Dodig of Croatia also made it to the last eight stage of the event being played at the Olympic Tennis School.

Sela, currently ranked 98, came back from the dead, saving a match point to survive past Igor Kunitsyn of Russia 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 in a thriller lasting two hours and 20 minutes.

Sela's Davis Cup compatriot Amir Weintraub continued his good showing in the event toppling former winner and eighth seed Karol Beck 6-3, 6-3 to make the last eight stage in one hour and 15 minutes.

Weintraub broke Beck in the fourth game in the first set and third and ninth games in the second set to notch up his best win of the year.

"I was feeling very confident playing today. I really played some good tennis. I have lost to him before and was not bothered about the result and played freely. I served very well and didn't give Karol a chance to break me," Weintraub said after the match.

Lacko breezed past qualifier Oleksandr Nedovyesov of Ukraine 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour while fifth seeded Croat Ivan Dodig easily disposed off Spain's Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 6-0, 6-3 in the same time.